Job Description and Person Specification
Post
University Lecturership (NTF) in Engineering
Science (Solid Mechanics and Materials
Engineering)
Department/Faculty Engineering Science
Division
Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences
College
St Hugh’s College
Salary
£42,883 - £57,581
Overview of the post
Applications are invited for the post of University Lecturer in Engineering Science (Solid Mechanics
and Materials Engineering) with effect from 1st September 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The successful candidate will also be appointed to a Non-Tutorial Fellowship at St Hugh’s College.
Please read the ‘How to Apply’ section for full application details.
A University Lecturership in Engineering Science is the major career grade post in the Department,
appropriate to someone with experience in teaching and research, and able to make a significant
contribution to the Department and College. Proven academic distinction can be recognised by the
University by the award of the title of Professor.
This appointment will further strengthen the Department’s research in solid mechanics and
materials engineering. Applications are welcome in any area relevant to the research interests of
the Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering Group. We would be particularly interested in
receiving applications from candidates with research interests in the area of composite materials.
The successful candidate will be expected to apply for and obtain external funding to enable
development of independent research as well as to develop links with other departments across
the University and externally as appropriate.
The successful candidate will contribute to the teaching of her/his subject at both undergraduate
and graduate level. Undergraduate teaching may include lectures and practical classes, and the
supervision of undergraduate design and project work (see
www.eng.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate/eng.html). Graduate teaching will involve the supervision of MSc
and DPhil students. The subjects taught would be expected to be in the general fields of solid
mechanics and materials engineering, depending on the interests of the appointee.
To assist in setting up new research activities, the Department will provide an equipment dowry of
£10k, a computer and an annual support fund of £500, and access to Departmental and University
research support funds (which must be bid for). Further funding for the set-up costs of
experimental facilities can be made available, and laboratory and office space will be provided. The
appointee will be helped in seeking and acquiring grants from research councils (e.g. through the
EPSRC First Grant Scheme) and industry.
Duties of the post
The University Lecturer will be a member of both the University and the College community. He or
she will be part of a lively and intellectually stimulating research community which performs to the
highest international levels in research and publications and will have access to the excellent
research facilities which Oxford offers.
The main duties of the post are to undertake teaching and research, principally in the field of Solid
Mechanics and Materials Engineering, and to participate in the administration of the Department.
Specific details are given below.
Research

to engage in original research in the field of Materials Engineering and Solid Mechanics;

to secure research funding and engage in the management of research projects;

to disseminate his/her research through publication in scholarly journals, participation in
international conferences and seminars, and through other media;

to engage in knowledge transfer activities.
Teaching

to carry out teaching at undergraduate and graduate level including lectures, classes,
demonstrations, and project supervision, under the direction of the Head of Department;

to supervise research students.

to undertake additional duties which are broadly equivalent to the teaching stint of six hours
per week during full term undertaken by those University Lecturers who are Tutorial Fellows
of colleges. These duties which may, for example, be undergraduate or graduate teaching,
will be under the direction of the Head of Department, who may in some cases assign some
or all of them to one or more colleges.

the College may buy up to three teaching hours per week during term from the Engineering
Department to enable the post-holder to fulfil teaching duties.
Examining

to take part in University examining as and when requested to do so;
Administration

to participate in the administration of the department as and when requested by the Head of
Department;

to take part in the administration and governance of the College.
The teaching load will be broadly equivalent to the combined College and University teaching stint
undertaken by those University Lecturers who are Tutorial Fellows of colleges. (Note, however,
that this post does not involve College teaching duties).
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Person specification
Applications will be judged only against the criteria which are set out below. Applicants should
make sure that their application shows very clearly how they believe that their skills and experience
meet these criteria.
Oxford is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions, however, we
are unable to provide general advice about the suitability of applicants’ cvs for future vacancies in
Oxford or elsewhere. Chairs of selection committees will be aware of the principles of equality of
opportunity and fair selection and there will be a member of each gender wherever possible.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the following.
Essential
(a) A doctorate in the field of solid mechanics, materials engineering or a cognate subject.
(b) Proven research record of high quality at international level; as might be demonstrated by
previous achievements, publications in recognised journals, and a good written research plan
appropriate to the Department’s research standing.
(c) Significant research potential in solid mechanics and/or materials engineering and research
interests that are relevant to the current range of activities within the Department of Engineering
Science.
(d) Ability to attract research funding and develop an independent programme of research;
(e) Experience of and ability to teach effectively, both at undergraduate and graduate level, a wide
range of topics within the field of Mechanical Engineering;
(f) Ability to supervise graduate students;
(g) Excellent interpersonal skills necessary for undertaking teaching and the pastoral care of
students;
(h) Ability and willingness to undertake the full range of administrative duties both within the
Department and the College.
Desirable
(i) Excellent track record of obtaining research grants;
(j) Experience of research collaborations at national and international level;
(k) Experience of supervising research students.
(l) Experience or an interest in developing links with Industry.
How to apply
There is no application form. However, all application material must be submitted in one pdf or
Word document of no more than 10 pages. Applications must include:

your full contact details including email and full postal addresses, and a telephone number.

a covering letter or statement explaining how you meet the criteria set out above and setting
out plans for research;

a full CV and publications list;
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
the names and contact details (postal and e-mail addresses and telephone number) of three
referees.

Applications are preferred via email. Your entire application should be submitted as a single
attachment to an email addressed to head@eng.ox.ac.uk. The attachment must be a file in
either .pdf, .doc or .docx (Word) format. The name of the file should be of the form
DF12STH_Surname_Initials.pdf. It is strongly recommended that the total size of the file
should not exceed 10 pages in a normal font and spacing. Please do not attach additional
material to your application as it will not be considered.
You should contact all three of your referees before applying, to ensure they are aware of your
application and of the requirements for the post, and to ensure that they would be content to write
a reference for you for this post, if they were asked to do so.
The University will assume that it is free to approach your referees at any stage unless your
application specifies otherwise. Therefore if you would prefer a referee or referees to be
approached only with your specific permission or if you would prefer them to be approached only if
you are being called for interview on the final short list, then you must state this in your application,
alongside the details of the relevant referee(s). You should provide the names and full contact
details of three referees even if you do not wish them to be contacted yet.
For your attachment please use the standard file name of: DF12STH_surname_initial
The deadline for applications is 5.00pm 31st May 2012
Alternatively applications may be sent by post to:
Professor G. T. Houlsby MA DSc FREng FICE
Head of Department
Department of Engineering Science
University of Oxford
Parks Road
Oxford, OX1 3PJ
Postal applications must also be no more than 10 pages in total and follow the prescribed material
above.
Should you have any queries about matters that are not addressed in this document, please
contact Professor G.T. Houlsby, FREng, Head of Department at head@eng.ox.ac.uk, or
telephone: +44 (0) 1865 273003. Please quote DF12STH in all correspondence.
All applications will be acknowledged after receipt and will be considered by the selection
committee as soon as possible after the closing date. All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed
and will be asked to give a short presentation to the committee as part of the interview.
It is expected that interviews will be held on 13th July 2012 but the date will be confirmed at a later
stage. Information for overseas candidates who require a visa to travel to the UK for interview may
be found at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visitingtheuk/visitors/
The interviewing process for the final short-listed candidates is expected to be as follows:
Morning: Each candidate will be asked to present a 30-minute seminar in the Department of
Engineering Science on a suitable topic from their current research (20 minutes presentation plus
5-10 minutes questions). The seminar will be attended by members of the Selection Committee,
and other interested members of the Department and the College (only some of whom will be
experts in the specialist field of the appointment).
Afternoon: The formal interview by the Selection Committee will be held in the Department of
Engineering Science. This will last about 45 minutes, and will include discussion of research
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interests and directions, teaching interests and expertise and experience, including undergraduate
teaching, undergraduate projects and other aspects of the job.
During the time they are not giving their seminar, short-listed candidates will have an opportunity to
visit the College. Neither of these visits constitutes any part of the selection process. Overnight
accommodation will be arranged by the College, if desired.
Applications for this post will be considered by a selection committee containing representatives
from both the Department of Engineering Science and St Hugh’s College. The selection committee
is responsible for conducting all aspects of the recruitment and selection process; it does not,
however, have the authority to make the final decision as to who should be appointed. The final
decision will be made by the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences divisional board and the
governing body of St Hugh’s College on the basis of a recommendation made by the selection
committee. No offer of appointment will be valid, therefore, until and unless the recommendation
has been approved by both the divisional board and the governing body, and a formal contractual
offer has been made.
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Information for Applicants for the University Lecturership in
Engineering Science (Solid Mechanics and Materials
Engineering)
The University
The University of Oxford aims to sustain excellence in every area of its teaching and research, and
to maintain and develop its position as a leader amongst world-class universities. Placing an
equally high value on research and on teaching, the colleges, departments and faculties of Oxford
aspire both to lead the international research agenda and to offer a unique and exceptional
education to our undergraduate and graduate students.
Oxford’s self-governing community of scholars includes university professors, readers, and
lecturers, college tutors, senior and junior research fellows and over 2,500 other university
research staff. The University aims to provide facilities and support for colleagues to pursue
innovative research and outstanding teaching, by responding to developments in the intellectual
environment and society at large, and by forging close links with the wider academic world, the
professions, industry and commerce. The Strategic Plan, detailing strategy for the period 2008-12,
can be found at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/pra/planningcycle/stratplan.shtml.
Research at Oxford combines disciplinary depth with an increasing focus on inter-disciplinary and
multi-disciplinary activities addressing a rich and diverse range of issues, from deciphering ancient
texts and inscriptions using modern scientific and computational methods developed in Oxford,
through to global health, climate change, ageing, energy and the effects on our world of rapid
technological change.
Oxford seeks to admit undergraduate students with the intellectual potential to benefit fully from the
college tutorial system and small group learning to which Oxford is deeply committed. Meeting in
small groups with their tutor, undergraduates are exposed to rigorous scholarly challenge and learn
to develop their critical thinking, their ability to articulate their views with clarity, and their personal
and intellectual confidence. They receive a high level of personal attention from leading
academics.
Oxford has a strong postgraduate student body which now numbers about 7,000, well over a third
of the full-time students. Postgraduates are attracted to Oxford by the international standing of the
faculty, by the rigorous intellectual training on offer, by the excellent research and laboratory
facilities available, and by the resources of the museums and libraries, including one of the world’s
greatest libraries, the Bodleian.
For more information please visit www.ox.ac.uk
The Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences Division
The Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences Division (MPLS) is one of the four academic
divisions of the University. Oxford is widely recognised as one of the world's leading science
universities. In the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise over 70% of research activity in MPLS
was judged to be world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*), and Oxford was ranked first in
the UK across the mathematical sciences as a whole.
The MPLS division's ten departments and three interdisciplinary units span the full spectrum of the
mathematical, computational, physical, engineering and life sciences, and undertake both
fundamental research and cutting-edge applied work. We have over 6,000 students and research
staff, and generate over half of our funding from external research grants. Our research addresses
major societal and technological challenges and is increasingly interdisciplinary in nature. We
collaborate closely with colleagues in Oxford across the medical sciences, social sciences and
humanities, as well as with researchers from around the world.
6
For more information, please visit: http://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/
The Department of Engineering Science
Engineering teaching and research takes place at Oxford in a unified Department of Engineering
Science whose academic staff are committed to a common engineering foundation as well as to
advanced work in their own specialities which include most branches of the subject. We have
especially strong links with computing, materials science, medicine and also with economics and
management studies. The Department employs 72 academic staff (this number includes ten statutory
Professors appointed in the main branches of the discipline, and 24 other professors in the
Department); in addition there are nine Visiting Professors. There is an experienced team of teaching
support staff, administrative and clerical staff, and technicians. The Department has well-equipped
laboratories and workshops, which together with offices, lecture theatres, library and other facilities
have a net floor area of about 16,000 square metres.
Further information about the Department is available at www.eng.ox.ac.uk
Teaching
We aim to admit 160-180 undergraduates per year, all of whom take 4-year courses leading to the
MEng degree. Around 80% of the undergraduates read the broadly-based Engineering Science
course. The remainder study for a joint degree in Engineering, Economics and Management. The
courses are accredited at MEng level by the major engineering institutions. The syllabus has a
common core extending through the first two years. Specialist options are introduced in the third year,
and the fourth year includes further specialist material and a major project.
Research
Research in the Department is particularly strong. We have approximately 280 research students and
about 80 Research Fellows and Postdoctoral researchers. Direct funding of research grants and
contracts, from a variety of sources, amounts to an annual turnover of approximately £10M in addition
to general turnover of about £12M. The Department achieved the highest grade (5*A) in the 1996 and
2001 Research Assessment Exercises. In the Research Assessment Exercise of 2008, 85% of the
Department’s research was rated as 4* or 3* (world-leading or internationally excellent). The
research activities of the department fall into seven broad headings, though there is much overlapping
in practice: Turbomachinery; Materials Engineering; Civil and Offshore; Information, Control and
Vision; Electrical and Optoelectronic; Chemical and Process; Biomedical Engineering.
Materials and Solid Mechanics
The Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering Group is one of the largest research groups within
the department. It currently includes nine members of academic staff: Professors Alan Cocks, David
Hills, David Nowell, Paul Buckley, Alexander Korsunsky, and Fionn Dunne and Drs Nik Petrinic, John
Huber, and Clive Siviour. Professor Cocks holds the Professorship of Materials Engineering and acts
as head of the group. The group contains the Rolls-Royce UTC in Solid Mechanics under the
Directorship of Professor Hills. The total turnover of the group is in excess of £2m per annum. Our
research activities are supported by five technicians, an administrator and a computing support officer.
These people, together with the academic staff, form the stable core of the group's personnel. In
addition, there are about forty research students, research assistants, post-doctoral assistants and
academic visitors, most of whom have a typical association of three to four years.
The group conducts research across a wide range of areas within Solid Mechanics and Materials
Engineering. We have extensive laboratory facilities in the centre of Oxford and in Begbroke on the
outskirts of the city for testing materials and components across a range of environmental conditions
and strain-rates. A major theme of our research is to develop an in-depth understanding of the
processing and performance of engineering materials by integrating experiment, theory and
7
computational modelling. Much of our research is relevant to the long-term needs of industry and we
have particularly strong links with the aerospace, automotive, defence, energy and marine sectors.
Further details of the group's research activities may be found on the group website
http://www.eng.ox.ac.uk/solidmech/home/Home.html.
St. Hugh’s College
There are 38 self-governing and independent colleges at Oxford, giving both academic staff and
students the benefits of belonging to a small, interdisciplinary community as well as to a large,
internationally-renowned institution. The collegiate system fosters a strong sense of community,
bringing together leading academics and students across subjects, and from different cultures and
countries.
St Hugh’s College was founded in 1886 as a women’s college and became fully mixed in 1986.
The College has some 400 undergraduates and around 200 graduates, a fellowship of 58, 30
college lecturers and a non-academic staff of 90. From its beautiful site in North Oxford, the
College promotes a thriving culture of research and intellectual engagement.
The appointee will be elected to a Supernumerary Fellowship at St Hugh’s. The Fellowship carries
full rights at common table (lunch and dinner free of charge when the kitchens are open) together
with membership of the College’s Senior Common Room. The Fellow may also be invited to sit on
College committees.
Engineering is strongly represented in St Hugh’s, with two Tutorial Fellows (Professor Stephen
Duncan and Dr Chris Stevens) and the Professor of Electrical Engineering (Professor Jong Min
Kim). The College admits up to 7 undergraduates in Engineering and its Joint Schools each year
together with up to 5 graduate students to read for research degrees.
More details about the St Hugh’s can be found at www.st-hughs.ox.ac.uk
8
Standard Terms and Conditions
Salary, benefits and pension
The successful candidate will be appointed on the Oxford scale for university lecturers (the salary
being in the range of £42,883 - £57,581). Lecturers appointed below the top of this range will
receive annual increments until they reach the top point. There is also an annual ‘cost-of-living’
review. Departments may also, in wholly exceptional cases, propose the awarding within the
substantive scale of additional increments to lecturers at any time during their appointment.
Additional remuneration is currently paid to those undertaking examining and graduate supervision.
Eligible staff may join the Universities Superannuation Scheme. Details are available on the
website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/finance/pensions/uss/.
Length of appointment
Upon completion of an initial period of appointment (which is normally five years), a university
lecturer is eligible for reappointment until retiring age, subject to the provisions of the Statutes and
Regulations of the University. Evidence of lecturing competence and of substantial progress in
research are prerequisites for reappointment to the retiring age.
For all academic and academic-related staff the University has adopted a retirement age of 30
September before the 68th birthday. There is a procedure for requesting an extension of
employment beyond that date.
Sabbatical leave and outside commitments
All lecturers may apply for sabbatical leave to allow them to focus on their research. In general,
one term of leave is available for each six terms worked. This leave may either be taken as one
term of leave after 6 terms of service, or accumulated and taken as one year of leave after 6 years
of service.
Lecturers may also spend up to 30 working days in each year on projects outside their employment
duties, such as consultancy, spin-out activity and membership of research councils and other
bodies. There is no limit to the amount of money which staff may earn from these activities. Full
details are available on the university website at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/staffinfo/academic/approvaltoholdoutsideappointments/
Guidance on ownership of intellectual property
(http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/182-052.shtml) and managing conflicts of interest
(http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/researchsupport/integrity/conflict/policy/) is also available on the
university website.
Relocation expenses
Subject to HMRC regulations and the availability of funding, a relocation allowance may be
available.
Further
details
are
available
on
the
website
at
hhttp://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/finance/expenses/relocationscheme/.
Family support
The University has generous maternity and adoption leave arrangements, and also offers support
leave to fathers and partners. Details are available on the website at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/staffinfo/academic/maternityleaveforacademicstaffandrelated
matters/
All staff are eligible to apply to use the University nurseries (although there is a long waiting list for
nursery places), and the full range of tax and National Insurance savings scheme is in operation.
Details
are
available
on
the
University’s
childcare
website
at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/childcare/.
9
The University will try to accommodate flexible working patterns as far as possible and there is
considerable flexibility in the organisation of duties. More information on family support and flexible
working policies is available on the website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/during/family/.
Facilities and services
The University has a range of facilities and benefits for its staff; more details are available on the
website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/staffinfo/benefits/.
The University Disability Office provides support to staff and students with a disability and may be
contacted through its website at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/disab/.
Equality of opportunity
The policy and practice of the University of Oxford require that all staff are offered equal
opportunities within employment. Entry into employment with the University and progression within
employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are
related to the duties of each particular post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to
perform the job will be the primary consideration. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant or
member of staff will be treated less favourably than another because of age, disability, gender
reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or
sexual orientation.
Medical questionnaire and the right to work in the UK
The appointment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a medical questionnaire and the
provision of proof of the right to work in the UK.
Applicants who would need a work visa if appointed to the post are asked to note that under the
UK’s points-based migration system they will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient points,
and in particular that:
(i)
they have sufficient English language skills (evidenced by having passed a test in English,
or coming from a majority English-speaking country, or having taken a degree taught in English)
and
(ii)
that they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves and any dependents until they
receive their first salary payment.
Further
information
is
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/
available
at:
Special arrangements
Oxford welcomes applications from candidates who have a disability. These documents will be
made available in large print, audio or other formats on request. Applicants invited for interview will
be asked whether they require any particular arrangements to make the interview more convenient
and effective for them.
Data Protection
All data supplied by candidates will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for
the post1 and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the
University’s
Data
Protection
Policy
(available
on
the
website
at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/councilsec/dp/policy.shtml).
1
But NB if the person appointed to the post is a migrant sponsored under the UK’s points-based migration
system, we are required to retain the applications of all shortlisted candidates for the duration of the sponsorship
or for one year, whichever is the shorter.
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ANNEXE
PAY SCALE FOR UNIVERSITY LECTURERS WITH NON-TUTORIAL FELLOWSHIPS
(with effect from 1 August 2011)
Main Lecturer Grade (10a)
Scale point
National Pay spine
Total Salary
11
52
£57,581
10
51
£55,908
9
50
£54,283
8
49
£52,706
7
48
£51,175
6
47
£49,689
5
46
£48,246
4
45
£46,846
3
44
£45,486
2
43
£44,166
1
42
£42,883
Last updated: 13 February 2012
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